The Chicago Bears expect quarterback Jay Cutler to return to the starting lineup in Sunday's Week 10 home game against the Detroit Lions, the team announced Thursday. Cutler missed the Week 9 road win over the Green Bay Packers with a groin injury.

The initial diagnosis when Cutler was hurt in the Week 7 loss at Washington before the Week 8 bye was that he would need to miss four weeks or more. Barring any setbacks, Cutler has cut down the recovery time to two weeks. Coach Marc Trestman, in declaring Cutler's status, said the QB did everything "24/7" to rehabiliate following the painful sack against the Redskins, adding "he could never recall a player rebounding from injury" in the same way.

As well as backup Josh McCown played against the Packers in continuing to keep the Bears' balanced offense humming, the Bears still will happily welcome the bigger-arm Cutler back for what figures to be another shootout in a rematch with Matt Stafford and the Lions. Given Green Bay just lost its quarterback, Aaron Rodgers, to a longer-term collarbone injury, the quick clean bill of health for Cutler and the chance to host Detroit tips the tight NFC North in Chicago's favor.

As Cutler is cleared, Bears offensive coordinator Aaron Kromer doesn't plan to hold back anything with the playbook. "We're calling the offense as we normally would."